Development in Late Life: Older Lesbian and Gay Lives

This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the core concepts and issues involved in the study of adults who are lesbians, homosexuals, and bisexuals shifting the attention away from beliefs of foreseeable decline in late life. The developmental approach is utilized to study the coming out process and coming to terms with one's sexual orientation for lesbians, gay males, and bisexuals. Moreover, the appearance of psychological strengths when faced with consequent challenges and the life strains of aging can be said to be the results from a non-standard life transition. Continuous studies have challenged and clarified existing misbeliefs and stereotypes on lesbians and gay males. These studies likewise shift our attention to the implications of the cultural context and cultural alteration. Certain levels of cultural and contextual upbringing can serve as a supportive tool to lesbians, homosexuals, and bisexuals to progress and improve.